By Aug. 15, the Office of Inclusion and Diversity will officially be dissolved, following a university-wide email from several high-level administrators sent on July 29. The closure uproots numerous staff and faculty, with some filling existing vacancies and others taking on new roles in offices that work on student recruitment, admissions and success.
In the email, Provost Vini Nathan, Senior Vice President for Business and Administration Kelli Shomaker and Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Bobby Woodard described the upcoming closure of the DEI office.
The university's announcement comes almost a week after the University of Alabama system announced they would close the DEI offices at the University of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham and University of Alabama in Huntsville. Unlike the UA system, Auburn University has not announced plans to create programs with similar goals.
The university created multiple groups of students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni to "ensure Auburn advances its mission while being consistent with applicable law," the email explained. During an April University Senate meeting, President Christopher B. Roberts and Nathan discussed how Auburn was working with others on how to comply with and navigate SB 129. The groups worked together to be aligned with the law’s requirements and Auburn’s internal vision for students and faculty.
Gov. Kay Ivey signed the anti-DEI bill on March 20, 2024, after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled in favor of the act on Feb. 22. The same day of Ivey's signing, Roberts and Nathan issued a joint statement to students and staff that the university would evaluate the bill and follow the law's requirements.
By Oct. 1, all state-funded schools and universities must dissolve programs and offices of DEI offices and comply with the rest of the act’s requirements. The news of the bill left many universities, schools and lawmakers unsure of how to comply with the law, with many questioning what equated to divisive concepts.
Divisive concepts in the amendment can be summarized as ideas that discriminate or favor a person or group of people based on sex, race, ethnicity, color, religion or national origin. In addition, teaching that fault or blame should be given to those of a certain race, religion or otherwise is prohibited under SB 129. The bill also prohibits teaching that “meritocracy or traits such as hard work ethic are racist or sexist."
The bill garnered nationwide scrutiny by numerous educational professionals, lawmakers and other politicians who argued that the bill is unconstitutional regarding the First and Fourteenth Amendments, which protect the freedom of speech and give all U.S. citizens equal protection under the laws. The legislation makers of SB 129 argued that the bill does not inhibit or violate the amendments as students and employees still have the right to academic freedom, intellectual diversity and free expression if they are not in violation of the law.
Alabama’s passing of SB 129 followed the Supreme Court of the United States' June 2023 decision that ruled affirmative action being used in college admissions is unconstitutional. Actions to bring affirmative action into law began throughout the 1960s by presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson and were meant to improve employment or educational opportunities for marginalized groups in the U.S.
Alabama is not the first state to legislate against DEI, with 30 other states introducing, passing or enacting legislature that also dissolves similar offices and programs.
The update leaves little information for students on how professors and organizations will navigate the new requirements following Oct. 1. Fields of studies like sociology, anthropology, history and literature face uncertainty on how to teach certain subjects like race or gender relations and how U.S. history has affected it.
This is a developing story. The Auburn Plainsman will update this article as soon as further details are released.
UPDATE: Jennifer Adams, Executive Director of Public Affairs provided a statement from the Office of the President regarding SB 129 and Auburn University's compliance after The Auburn Plaisnman reached out for comment.
"We are dedicated to ensuring that all students, faculty and staff are welcomed, valued, respected and engaged. As stated in President Roberts and Provost Nathan’s message on March 20, “we are resolute in our mission to deliver exceptional student experiences and to provide support to all of our students with particular emphasis on providing access and opportunity. As always, we will continue to embody the values of the Auburn Creed.” Additionally, the Division of Student Affairs is committed to providing ongoing support to all university student programs and services." - Office of the President
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Michaela Yielding is a senior in journalism currently serving as the news editor. She has been with The Auburn Plainsman since fall 2023.
